St Johnstone started the match well, however the first incident of the match resulted in Hasselbaink being booked for diving. The striker drove at Anderson until he was in the box and flicked the ball past him, the Dons defender didn't even flick out a leg and down he went. The referee correctly then came over and issued Hasselbaink with a yellow card for simulation. It was then MacKay's turn to trouble Aberdeen from a freekick. He struck the ball sweetly and thundered it at goal however Langfield was equal to it and touched it over the bar for a corner. Aberdeen responded with pressure of their own, Reynolds whipped in an in swinging cross which found Gregg Wylde, he directed his volley on target but Banks saved well. Langfield just before half time was called upon to save Aberdeen from falling behind after Hasselbaink layed off the ball to Wotherspoon he fired the ball at the top corner of the goal, Langfield dived mid air and parried the ball away to safety, good save by the goalkeeper.
Aberdeen were more dominant in the second half and the early signs of this came when Pawlett spun away from his man on fifty minutes and cracked a wonderful shot at goal, once again the St Johnstone keeper was there to save. Soon after Aberdeen were caught napping at the back, Scobbie threaded a great ball in between defenders and goalkeeper but Hasselbaink couldn't latch on to it and the chance was gone for the Saints. St Johnstone looked sure to take the lead on the hour mark when Hasselbaink cut the ball back to Davidson after a great run down the wing. Davidson was unmarked in th box but sntched at the chance and blazed the ball miles over the bar and into the stand. More long range shots came in the way of Smith and Magennis in quick succession. Smith's shot was dipping after he picked the ball up in mifield and had a go, however the keeper was able to make the save. Magennis then had a low drive at goal which was only millimeteres past the post. Aberdeen were piling the pressure on now but just couldn't find a way to goal. Good link up play between Magennis and McGinn saw the best chance of the game. Magennis headed down to McGinn who controlled the ball on his chest and unleashed a volley that smashed the woodwork, St Johnstone were somehow keeping Aberdeen at bay. Then a bad back pass from MacKay allowed McGinn in, Wylde was running with him and the cut back was on, that was the option McGinn went for although the quality of the pass was poor and by the time it trundled to Wylde St Johnstone defenders were back on the scene to block the resulting shot. Another solo effort cam from McGinn came fifteen minutes from the end. He picked up the ball wide left, cut inside an on the turn drove the ball at goal, Banks the goalkeeper once again made the save. It would take something special to beat the keeper on Saturday. Aberdeen couldn't find that something special meaning the game finished at a stalemate.
FT: Aberdeen 0-0 St Johnstone
Aberdeen
- 01 Langfield
- 02 Shaughnessy (Murray - 76' )
- 03 Robertson
- 04 Anderson
- 27 Hector (Smith - 46' )
- 06 Reynolds
- 16 Pawlett
- 17 Wylde (Zola - 88' )
- 22 Jack Booked
- 10 McGinn
- 21 Magennis
Substitutes
- 20 Weaver
- 05 Considine
- 18 Low
- 35 Murray
- 07 Zola
- 09 Vernon
- 14 Smith
St Johnstone
- 15 Banks
- 02 MacKay
- 03 Scobie
- 05 Wright Booked
- 06 Anderson
- 07 Millar
- 08 McDonald
- 10 Wotherspoon
- 11 Hasselbaink Booked (Caddis - 77' )
- 18 Davidson
- 09 MacLean (May - 66' )
Substitutes
- 30 Clark
- 19 Miller
- 24 Easton
- 04 Cregg
- 16 Caddis
- 17 May
- 27 Fallon
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